A Quantum Love Story by Mike Chen

Author:Mike Chen
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin Enterprises ULC
Published: 2023-11-14T21:47:01+00:00

25

Mariana’s eyes opened. She woke in the same position that she always was in at the start of a loop: half-tangled in sheets, the emerging sun dimmed out by tinted windows, and a cat several seconds away from jumping onto the bed. All of that felt familiar, routine, like taking the same path every day to get to the elevator and out of her apartment building.

But inside, all of Mariana’s instincts pulled in new, unexpected directions. A flutter in her chest, a tumble in her gut, and the still-there impression of Carter’s lips against hers. The whole thing made her turn over on her back and stare straight up at the ceiling.

She’d done that before at the start of loops, usually out of frustration, occasionally despair, always with a desire to fast-forward time and get out of this perpetual existence that locked them into this four-day cycle. This time, however, she wanted to rewind, to go back and experience that single moment on the boat, a slice where nothing else mattered except the two of them.

Not even the exploding Hawke Accelerator could take away that.

Well, sort of. The explosion did interrupt them. Yet other than that, the world expanded in ways she’d never considered, never even thought possible. Sure, she’d had boyfriends before, but Shay would have been quick to point out that none of them ever danced close to being serious or legit, even if they lasted for a year or longer.

With Carter, the world felt clearer, brighter, a certainty in detail that previously just didn’t exist. In theory, the two of them never should have worked. For one, Mariana still preferred her protein shakes for breakfast. For another, making plans would always be hardwired into her brain.

Versus his ease at just rolling with things. His ability to be in the moment. His obsession with food, of all things.

Their connection went beyond that, beyond needing to break out of a time loop.

Carter Cho was a good, authentic soul, in a world that didn’t always want those. In fact, they tried to push people like Carter out, hampering them without the means to become who they really were.

At least until they got stuck in a time loop. Then none of that mattered.

Mariana felt the bed beneath her, the sheets over her, the shifting as Maggie walked back and forth to get her attention. Just thinking about the moment ignited the world, time loop or not. She rolled over and looked at her phone, mind wandering to possibilities. Should they take another break? Should they plan a full trip? Nothing would change around them, but this fundamental shift in their relationship meant so much more.

Maggie interrupted with further urgency, her tail up and eyes wide in full-on demand. The little cat clearly did not care for any epiphanies or romance in her life. “All right, I get it. System, open windows and start the coffee, black. And turn on the US Open.”

The wall screen activated, the same first-round match that she’d seen countless times by now.

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